Menu

Craft Beer Budapest: 9 Bars Serving Local Hungarian Beer

Hey there! Welcome to JetSetting Fools! You will find our best travel tips for destinations worldwide. Some of the links on this site are Affiliate Links and if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a small commission. For more information, read our Disclosure Policy.

On our first trip to Budapest in the spring of 2015, the craft beer revolution was just taking hold in the city. It wasn’t easy finding craft beer bars in Budapest, but those we did find had an impressive selection of local brews. Fast forward to a return trip to the city – two-and-a-half years later – and we found the craft beer Budapest scene booming. Eager to sample the latest Hungarian beer creations, we discovered some of the best bars in Budapest serving local microbrews.

Craft Beer Budapest District Map below.

Craft Beer Bars in Budapest

Our list of places to drink craft beer in Budapest includes bars that are dedicated to Hungarian craft beer. Each bar has a unique vibe, but all cater to the craft beer enthusiast.

Jonas Craft Beer House (Jonas Kezmuves Sorhaz)

With an ideal location on the Danube riverside, just south of Liberty Bridge, Jonas Craft Beer House Budapest is a modern Budapest beer bar. Inside is an industrial space with 8 brews on tap; outside is the best beer garden in Budapest. Website

Szimpla Café (Szimpla Kavezo)

Although related, Budapest Szimpla Café is not to be confused with popular ruins bar, Szimpla Kert (a staple in every Budapest nightlife guide). While the décor at Szimpla Café resembles a ruins bar, the atmosphere is more intimate and focuses on Budapest’s local beer. Website

Only Good Beer (Csak a jo sor)

What is better than a beer shop in Budapest? A craft beer shop in Budapest where you can buy Hungarian beer with a bar – and that is exactly what Only Good Beer Budapest offers. The homey shop sells some of the best beer in Budapest for on-site consumption or for take away. Website

Kandallo Artisanal Pub Budapest (Kandallo Kezmuves Pub)

With 16 rotating taps and an excellent selection of burgers, Kandallo Pub Budapest is one of the best beer bars in Budapest. The friendly staff, bar seating and stylish interior are also highly rated at Kandallo! Website

Hopaholic: In Hop We Trust

Hopaholic is one of the best pubs in Budapest for craft beer and a good time! Featuring local beers from breweries in Budapest and knowledgeable bar staff, beer-lovers could easily lose track of time in this bar. Website

First Craft Beer and BBQ

First Craft Beer Company Budapest is one of the breweries in Budapest that has opened a tap room featuring their beers on draft – as well as a wide selection of competitor’s brew. We recommend trying the First IPA – a Budapest IPA that suited our hop-loving palates! Website

Start Craft Beer Bar

It may be a bit of a hole-in-the-wall bar, but Start Craft Beer Bar Budapest is a little gem of a craft beer bar just down the street from ruins bar, Szimpla Kert. It also happens to be right next to a Budapest food truck courtyard (try the Langos Burger from one of the first few stalls on your left! Amazing!). Website

Hops Beer Bar

Hops Beer Bar Budapest – just around the corner from Start Craft Beer Bar – is a great spot for local beer in Budapest. In the midst of Budapest’s tourist district, Hops Beer Bar exudes the charm of a neighborhood tavern. Website

Rizmajer Sorhaz

Rizmajer is a brewery in Budapest – and Rizmajer Sorhaz is their intercity taproom. What we liked best about this craft beer bar in Budapest is that it seemed to attract a more local clientele, rather than tourists. Website

Bonus Craft Budapest Bars:

Cat (Macska)

Perhaps more of a café than a beer bar in Budapest, Cat has a bohemian vibe…and craft beer on tap. Get a beer, go upstairs, kick off your shoes (but watch your head!) and chill. Website

Kek Lo Pub

Kek Lo Pub is an off-the-beaten-path hipster pub and one of the best Budapest pubs for vegan fare, live music and good craft beer.Website

Eleszto

Sadly, we did not make it to Eleszto, a bar which helped pioneer the craft beer Budapest scene. There are only so many beers we can consume in a day! We look forward to checking this bar out our next time visiting Budapest! Website

More About Budapest Craft Beer

There is so much more to Budapest Craft Beer than drinking it at a bar! Check out more ways to experience craft beer in Budapest.

Craft Beer Cruise Budapest

Cruising down the Danube between the Buda and Pest sides of the city is one of the best experiences in the city. Now, they’ve made it even better by offering a Craft Beer Cruise Budapest. Guests are invited to enjoy the Budapest sights while sipping Budapest craft beer! You can book in advance on Viator.

Craft Beer Tour Budapest

Join a Budapest Craft Beer Tour to get a taste of beer from Hungary with the help of a local guide. You can book a Budapest brewery tour in advance on Viator.

Budapest Beer Festival

Check out the Budapest By Locals website for Budapest Beer Festival information (there are a few of them!). Find out more about Fozdefeszt, a craft beer festival in Budapest, on the Fozdefeszt Facebook Page.

Beer Bath Budapest

Following the latest trend in beer, a Thermal Beer Spa has been opened at the city’s popular Szechenyi Spa. Soak in tubs of brew with a beer (unfortunately, not craft!) in hand!

Hungarian Ruins Pubs

These must-see bars in Budapest are a feast for the senses – although taste isn’t the one they are focusing on, as they mostly serve mass-produced lagers and cheap Palinka. However, some pubs, like Szimpla Kert, have added at least one craft beer to their draft lineup.

How much is beer in Budapest?

Budapest has a reputation of being an inexpensive city where partiers can drink the night away. The price of beer in Budapest, however, varies drastically between large and independent breweries. Mass-produced Budapest beer can cost as little as $1 USD, but the same doesn’t apply to craft beer in Hungary. The price of a pint in Budapest – of craft beer – is about $5 USD.

Our Top Tips for Your Trip to Budapest

Budapest Sightseeing Tips

The public transportation in Budapest keeps the city well-connected. Click here for information and cost of BKV modes of transportation; or catch a ride on the Big Bus Budapest, which makes stops at all the top tourist sights!

If you are planning to visit the top Budapest sights and using public transportation, a Budapest Card provides Budapest discounts to the top sights.

Budapest 3-Day Itinerary

Where to Stay in Budapest

The best place to stay in Budapest is in the heart of the city within walking distance to sights – and there are many cheap apartments in Budapest city centre. We have found that staying in apartments is often less expensive than hotel rooms – with the added benefit of a kitchen and, usually, more space. Budapest holiday apartments can also be searched on FlipKey (which is part of TripAdvisor) or on VRBO – Vacation Rentals By Owner.

Getting to Budapest

Budapest can be reached by plane, train, bus or car. We arrived by train (Ljubljana to Budapest) and departed via plane.

Our preferred method of getting anywhere is by flying (we are JetSetting Fools, after all!). When we need to purchase plane tickets, we start our search for the best deals on airline tickets on Skyscanner orFlight Hub.

Before You Go

Budapest is a walkable city…but only if you have the right shoes! Don’t forget to pack a pair of lightweight and comfortable walking shoes for your trip. I (Sarah) have traveled with these shoes by Columbia, Skechers and Reef. Kris prefers wearing these shoes by Merrell and Sanuk.

We’re certain you’ll be snapping tons of photos during your trip. Rather than relying on your mobile phone to capture the sights, upgrade to an actual camera for higher quality photos (that can later be beautifully compiled into a travel photo book). We travel with a Canon Rebel (which takes amazing photos, but can be a bit clunky) and a Canon PowerShot ELPH (which takes beautiful pictures, is slim and lightweight – and the new models are wifi enabled so you can share your trip pics to social media in real time!).

It’s easy to get turned around in any foreign city! Make sure to have a good city map and/or guidebook before arriving.

We think travel insurance is essential! If you haven’t already obtained travel insurance for your trip, travel protected with World Nomads.